Boyfriend turns self in to Novi police after woman found dead

NOVI, Mich. (WJBK) - The search for a person of interest in a 38-year-old woman's death in Novi has ended.

Michigan State Police say 34-year-old Jay Burnett turned himself in late Monday night and confessed to killing his girlfriend, Jamie McManaman.

Monday afternoon authorities said they were looking for him after a woman was found dead at the Novi Meadows Mobile Home Park. Police had said her death was a result of a domestic situation. For nearly 12 hours, police were at the home investigating.

On Tuesday, authorities said the manner of McManaman's death was homicide, and the cause of death was due to sharp force injuries with complications. Charges against Burnett are pending.

"I would have never thought it would come to this they seemed like very normal everyday people, you don't anticipate that," neighbor John Sabich said.

John lives directly next door to the home. He says he's possibly one of the last people to see McManaman alive.

"I saw them leave at 8:30 p.m. And when I got up at 6 a.m. his car was gone," Sabich said.

The man John described is Burnett. After police found the victim dead, what they did not find was Burnett or a Silver Cadillac Deville with the license plate BZZ 7808.

"It's just unfortunate. She was a wonderful person, and it's a horrible thing to happen," Sabich said.

John says Burnett would often talk about battling drug and alcohol addiction, and through it all McManaman was by his side.

"She was a rock for him and I think she did a lot more than anyone else would've," Sabich said.

He says an employer and a coworker showed up to her house after she missed work, which was unusual for her to miss work and not call. He says they were able to find someone with a key, and that they then saw the body.

"I witnessed the response to her finding the body; it was horrific. She went in, fell to her knees and started screaming. She had to be pulled from the house," Sabich said.

Police did say they are familiar with Burnett, who has been arrested on drug charges before. However, he doesn't have a violent criminal history in Michigan.

It's not known yet if Burnett will be facing any charges related to the woman's death.